Sergio García could make Ryder Cup return after talks with Luke Donald

Sergio García could be in line for a sensational return to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage next year, after Luke Donald revealed he has held recent talks with the Spaniard about joining the DP World Tour.

García resigned from the Tour in early 2023 after a sports arbitration panel ruled that sanctions imposed on the former Masters champion and others who joined LIV Golf were appropriate. That seemed to be the end of the Ryder Cup road for García, the event’s record points scorer, as only members of the DP World Tour can come to Europe. Garcia had an impressive 2024 season at LIV, finishing third in the overall individual standings.

Donald, the European captain, was asked on Tuesday about García’s situation in New York. The Englishman came up with a surprising answer. “Obviously he has canceled his membership, but we have had some conversations,” Donald said. “He is considering joining again. He should follow all the rules and regulations just like everyone else, and if he does, he will be eligible to compete in the Ryder Cup.

“We had a phone conversation a few weeks ago. He’s certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that is involved and the decision must be his whether he is willing to do so. But we certainly had that discussion, yes.”

García was absent when Donald’s European team left the US in Rome in 2023. Regaining membership of the DP World Tour, if he is serious about it, will not be easy for the 44-year-old. He will have to pay outstanding fines and serve suspensions before being cleared to compete in DP World Tour events.

In May last year, the Tour said García was at fault over a £100,000 fine. It is understood that, plus possibly other fines, remains unpaid. The return of García, who was critical of the DP World Tour, could also cause unrest among the supporters.

Speaking at the same media conference as Donald, US captain Keegan Bradley remained strangely opaque about what will happen in the very possible scenario of him qualifying for his own team. Rory McIlroy is among those who have publicly stated that it would be impossible for Bradley to combine playing and captaincy duties. Bradley is now the 14th ranked player in the world and has a great chance of securing a Bethpage playing spot.

“It’s always a goal of mine to play on the Ryder Cup teams,” Bradley said. ‘It’s so far gone now that I’m not going to worry about it anymore. Once we get closer to the tournament and I’m at the top of the points list, we’ll think about it. But right now I’m focusing on captaining the team and that’s it.”

Bradley admitted that there will be “people inside the ropes monitoring the situation” regarding the behavior of the crowd on the outskirts of New York. Bethpage offers a famously raucous environment, which has fueled fears that the Ryder Cup scene could spiral out of control.

“It’s very important to us that it’s a fair place to play for both teams,” Bradley said. “No one on either team wants this to be awkward or weird.”